Adaptability and stability of rubber production and selection in rubber tree progenies

The objectives of this work were to determine the genotype x environment interaction and the stability and adaptability of rubber production in progenies of Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Mull. Arg., as well as to estimate the genetic gain with selection of the most productive materials. Three half-sib progeny populations of rubber were cultivated in three municipalities in the state of Sao Paulo. The experiments were installed in a randomized complete block design with 22 progenies, 6 replicates and 10 plants per plot, with spacing of 1.5x1.5 m. At three years of age, the progenies were evaluated regarding dry rubber production, using the Hamaker Morris-Mann test. The adaptability and stability analyses were obtained using the Reml/Blup mixed linear models. The selection of the five most productive progenies provided a genetic gain of 8.16%. The small performance variation of the most productive progenies in the three locations demonstrates good stability of these genotypes. The three most productive progenies presented 14 to 19% superiority over the general average at the three locations. The selected progenies can be indicated for use in the genetic breeding program sequence and can lead to maximization of latex production.